The people of Denmark are rated as one of the happiest citizens in the world despite the nation being gloomy with up to 17 hours of darkness a day and relentless rains for approximately three quarters of the year. Surveys have shown that this is due to the Danish concept of “hygge” (the buzzword of every lifestyle brand
in 2017) where it is less about living it up like DJ Diplo and more like Antoni Porowski of Queer Eye – that glass of vintage wine, a monogrammed bathrobe, or a three-digit scented candle.
Somewhere along the lines of Seoul’s domination as the mecca of fashion, beauty, and music, the iconic ten-step skincare routine is birthed to promise the sensorial pleasure of hygge – starting with a leisurely cleansing of the face to a relaxing end state of being thoroughly pampered and moisturised. Therein lies one problem regarding this routine – there is a chance that one might not have scrutinised the ingredients in all ten different products (or consider other options from differing brands), which might not play nice together.
The proof is in the Harvard-health publishing pudding which states that the mixing of vitamin C and a retinol cream may cause irritation while the combination of alpha and beta hydroxy acids may cause excessive dryness, redness, and irritation.
Before one baulks at the science of skincare being akin to astrophysics or quantum mechanics, Dr Soh Peng Kai, the head scientist of DRx has some good news.
—
IN MODERATION
“Just like anything else, a grooming routine should be practised in a moderate manner. The overuse of skincare products would not only compromise the efficacy of your skincare routine but may also exacerbate skin issues. It can be difficult sometimes to gauge whether products are being used sufficiently or excessively as each individual’s skin tolerance is different,” Dr Soh shares.
The most noticeable signs that one has used a wrong product would be dryness, breakouts, redness, and irritation, which stems from a lack of ingredient knowledge. “Skincare products that should be used sparingly are particularly cleansers with strong surfactants that strip skin of its natural protective lipids and moisture barrier, and exfoliation products that often contain effective but harsh ingredients such as AHAs, BHAs, and retinol derivatives.”
If one has managed to read this far, this is the part where we deliver the good news.
A simplified but well-tailored skincare routine only needs to consist of three to five products as opposed to ten. The time taken to execute a skincare regime is significantly reduced, and so are the side effects.
—
FOUR IS COMPANY
According to the International Dermal Institute, men’s biological differences from the fairer sex extends beyond the parts and pieces to their skin, which is thicker and more resilient due to higher levels of testosterone and collagen.
However, Dr Soh still mandates that a daily skincare routine should consist of a facial cleanser, moisturiser, and sunscreen for day, and a facial cleanser, target treatment (an example is a pore minimising serum), and a night moisturiser for night. Exfoliation is the anomaly that should only be done twice or thrice a week.
“Not all exfoliators are created equal as they fall either into the category of physical or chemical exfoliators. Our newly launched Derma-Rx Arazyme Exfoliator is in a class of its own; it stops the process when dead skin cells are completely dissolved and removed”.
Dr Soh’s statement might be weighty, but due to the no-risk-high-rewards formula, it is as suitable for those with hypersensitive skin as it is to a mien that is riddled with acne.
The bonus? Like the most gracious of house guests, it does not leave a mess in the sink or on the sheets.
RELATED ARTICLES
The Heavy Duty Of Body Metals
